Tonight on Channel 8 KAET, our PBS station, they premiered "Arizona in the 70's" then followed it with "Arizona in the 60's" and ended with "Arizona in the 60's".  

As a "mature" Arizona native, it was fun to relive how Phoenix used to be and some fond memories from my childhood.  If you get a chance to see any of these or purchase the DVD's you will really be able to see how Phoenix was a small, naive, friendly, and unique town.  

My parents moved here from Chicago in the late 40's and their relatives followed as Phoenix was the place to be - go West they said. So had tons of family here as I grew up.  We even used to have a Playboy Club here - my father was a member, the cost I believe was $20 to join.

My favorite memories of the Phoenix area are of:
Legend City
Cruising
Sleeping outside in the summer on our patio
Leaving cars and houses unlocked - no one did, it was a small and safe city
The orange grooves and Japanese flower gardens along Baseline - the smell in spring was fabulous
The rodeos and dressing up in "western wear" and getting the day off from school to go to the parade

These may sound corny but Phoenix used to be a very small town.  

I know there are other older natives here - what are your favorite memories of the Phoenix area growing up???



-- Modified on 6/2/2008 10:18:53 PM

Hey Misty how could you forget Wallace and Ladmo and the brat Gerald

Rose

I've only been around since the mid 70's, but I'm AZ born and raised.  

I also remember:
sleeping outside on the patio/in the tent/in the camper/in the bed of the truck
4th of July spent on the roof (how we got the lawn chairs up there, I can't remember)
Tri-City Mall
Riding our horses up to the 4-way stop signs at Alma School and Warner

I also remember my frugal mother and how she loved pulling out our 'summer' innertubes (for use at the Salt River) during the winter for our annual drive up to Flagstaff... back in the day when you could just pull off the side of the road and have some family fun.  

Thanks for the memories!
And the mammories!

I'm a native too, was born at Williams AFB...Dad was stationed at Luke Air Base while mom was going to Phoenix Union High...

Use to baby sit for Pat McMahon (Gerald) at that time he was a DJ for "KRIS" radio station also baby sat for one of the Fann brothers (Fann Toyota)

Went to the same High School as Alice Cooper (of course he graduated before me)

Wallace & Ladmo  ran April 1954 to 1989 won 7 emmies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_and_Ladmo

My uncle was the engineer on the Legend City park train, and I got to ride in the engine car..what fun !

My cousin had a house up on Camelback mountain..awesome view of the city from the patio..

Downtown Scottsdale had a cool wax museum that scared the sh!t out of me as a little kid.

Not sure it's a fun memory, but the smell of the actual stockyards on Washington was impressive.

The first time I ever encountered a 'street provider'  was walking down E Van Buuren
natch where I was staying in a motel (as a out of town high school freshman on a band trip to the State Fair). She was with a client and was giving him quite a bit of DFK attention. My friends were nudging me and I remember thinking.. 'hmmm, that's something I may want to check out when I get old enough' ...lol !

Thanks for the trip down Memory lane ladies.. and Misty, Aria, and Terri you have all given me some unforgettable memories as well..aahhh...

Thank you sweetie!

Yes the Stockyards.....what history it has
it's just not the same without the cows
finally ate there 2 times now all within the last year

what about the Kiva in Old Town Scottsdale....my ex and I use to go frequently....what a hot ride home!

wife and I would walk in and sit down, the single men in there would gravitate towards us,hoping to have a view of the missus and playin' a bit.lol

The little Mexican restaurant by ASU, next to or preceded the Vine on Apache.  My first AZ job was at the old Howard Johnson (Twin Palms) by ASU, the late arriving stewardesses (oops, Flight Attendants) would skinny dip in the pool at night.

Not a native but
lived here in the 70,s when i was little.
my dad owned 2 different western clothing stores on main st in mesa when it was still a shopping hub.  I remember the rain fountain in tri city mall, Lunch at the rexall and Walgreen's lunch counters in mesa.  Where i live now on greenfield road was orange groves and dirt roads.  The cruisers on main street in mesa .  My dad told me this morning that when main street in mesa was opened they put the stop lights exactly 1/4 mile apart for the drag racers.  My dad did the old west gunfights at legend city (they robbed the train) and at apacheland movie ranch and a place on east main in Mesa called poverty gulch bar and steakhouse, He built the old west town behind it.
The valley was a different place back then.

-- Modified on 6/3/2008 8:30:39 AM

Yes Wallace and Ladmo was a must.  But you were also defined by what radio station you listened to.  So were you a KRIZ or KRUX???

I was a KRIZ gal who also had a CB radio in her car.  My handle was "Morning Light".

Thanks Misty for reminding us all what a Great Place Phx was and still is. I arrived in Phx in 1957 a cute 19 year old who fell in love with this city at that time. I think there were only around  a few hundred thou. people here and 24 and Camelback was an empty field with nothing after
it,and look at it now amazing. Thks again Misty for the memories I have a bunch.

Rose edensrose

Cruising Central and hanging out at the Pink Elephant because they would serve any body that walked in. They didn’t care how old you were so long as you had $$.

Rodeo Days with the Phoenix JC’s I was a member of the N Phx chapter.

Rose I moved here in 57 also. How come I didn’t see you at PUHS? Did you play hooky?  

My Favorite Law School Hangout: THE DASH

-- Modified on 6/3/2008 5:27:19 PM

But now I wish I hung out at the swimming pool.

What Was On The Northeast Corner Of 7Th Street And Missour?  Northeast corner of Central and Thomas? What was the name of Collonade in the 60's And 70's?  What restaurant in that mall's south parking lot was a very popular night spot? What was the name of the disco on Scottsdale Road that was in a building that later had a big SONY sign on it?  During the winter storm floods in 79-80, how many bridges across the river survived...and can you name them?

lol I was already out of school 3 years hmmm oman that makes me older then you dang!!!

The Mexican Restaurant was called the Dash Inn.

The Tee Pees were "apartments" (except one that was also the place a Fortune Teller lived in). There were mobile homes behind them. And a Burger King next to them.

The Vine was three buildings east of there.

(I lived in one of the mobile homes for a short time.)

A couple of providers lived next door. And both went to school at ASU.

Wow.. small world... I had a Magic store at Legend City in the early 70's. Then moved it to 15th ave. just south of Indian School.

I also did some stunt work at Legend City, Rawhide, and down in the old Tucson Studios.

Handle on CB was "The Professor"

I was in the Scottsdale Camelback JC's

Central and Thomas.. Bob's Big Boy.

Collonade was originally called Sears Rhodes Mall.

South parking lot.. wasnt that TGIFridays?

Disco?? you mean the Red Dog Saloon? or the Phone Company

The OLD Mill avenue bridge survived.. Scottsdale and Hayden always fell to the water.

but I do remember Wallace and Ladmo! Who could forget?

Okay

7th St and Missouri. The Bethany Drive In. I think I lost my cheery there or was it the Phx drive in on E Van Buren that I lost it in.

N/E corner of Central & Thomas. Bob’s Big Boy.

Popular night spot & restaurant in the 60’s & 70’s. Bobby McGee's.

Only one bridge survived the floods of 79 & 80. The old Mill Ave Bridge.

All the new bridges were ether under water or had major damage.

sure thing.. but it was not the Scottsdale JC's

It was the "Scottsdale" Camelback JC's

I lived next door in the apartments.  I fooled around the movie set doctor - it was so cute and he had nothing to do just had to be around during filming so he would sneek over to my place.  Oh no, were you there when I was there???? No I wasn't a provider back then.  But we could have been neighbors.

And you mention all the other places around ASU but you forgot the best...SNOW.

You couldn't mention ASU without mentioning Snow.  What a great place - fun for parties to use it to mix with the alcohol.

Isn't it fun to remember those "good ole days"??? Man those were fun.

What Was On The Northeast Corner Of 7Th Street And Missouri?  YES, it was a drive-in, BUT it was the Cinema Park Drive-In (as evidenced by "Cinema Park Health Foods" located there now.)  The Bethany was at 23rd Ave and Bethany (and its walls were damaged by the sub-woofers installed for the movie Earthquake--or was that the Kachina out in Scottsdale?)

Northeast corner of Central and Thomas? YES, it was Bob's Big Boy (and my senior class stole the statue and put him on top of the Camelback H.S. administration building in 1977.

What was the name of Collonade in the 60's And 70's?  SEARS RHODES is correct.

What restaurant in that mall's south parking lot was a very popular night spot? TGI FRIDAY'S is correct.

What was the name of the disco on Scottsdale Road that was in a building that later had a big SONY sign on it?  MANHATTAN WEST...it had a stainless steel dance floor and supposedly a million dollar light and sound system!

During the winter storm floods in 79-80, how many bridges across the river survived...and can you name them?  TWO is the correct answer:  Mill Avenue and the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge (which became a commuter line carrying workers back and forth daily...that train was nicknamed the "Hattie B" because Mrs. Babbitt came up with the idea.)

THAT was it ... thanks!!

entertained quite often?

Who DJ'd for Kriz radio?

I believe Bill Heywood started as a DJ at KRIZ, didn't he?

-- Modified on 6/4/2008 12:35:47 AM

and who was their TV spokesman?

Wasn't it Earnhart Ford? And the dewd was like, um, Tex Earnhart? (This aint no bull)?

OR there was the lone arranger and Carlotta sales...

It is fuzzy to me now.

my dad owned Arizona stuntmans association
he and ron nix used to work out skits and stunt fights at our house...small world indeed

don't remember it that well but i do remember my dad was a mesa JC i believe he still has the rooster pin somewhere

You mean just south of Curry?

"Friday's & Saturday's" was the name.. it then later became "Scene West".. After they closed it became a 2 story Furniture store.

That entire area was loaded with "Massage" Parlors back then.

It was the Bethany which had the walls damaged with the speakers of sensurround for Earthquake. I worked my way up from an usher to doorman then assistant manager for the Nace Theater chain. Many of the old theaters Roundup, Silver Dollar, Maryvale twins and ending at the Bethany then Palms on central.

Remember cruising central? The Fifth National Bank(disco) and the old outdoor only seating McDonalds?

At least  you have not mentioned the answers I was talking about


a clue regarding the entertainer that preformed was a member of the Buddy Holly Band

The opening line of the ad was, "Al Scheidler here for Westward Pontiac"

They had Rock bands up stairs Western down stairs.

I saw him and Jessey a few times there!

I think Waylon was part owners of the place I'm talking about on Scottsdale rd.

-- Modified on 6/4/2008 1:24:13 PM

KRIZ Krew, circa 1966 (L-R)
Frank Flynn (Owner), Pat McMahon, Lord Jim,
Tony Evans (on the bike),
Diana Patterson, Captain Marvel (Tom McMurray),
and Hadley Madley.
(Picture courtesy of Diana McDonald.)

Here is a complete list of KRIZ and KRUZ

KRIZ, Phoenix
     
Bob Adams
Buzz Bennett
Dave Biondi
Bobby Christian
 Doug Cornet
Captain Marvel
Morton 'Doc' Downey Jr.
Ron Edwards
  Don Elliott
Carol Field
 Jack Frost
Barnie Groven
Shotgun Tom Kelly
Sonny Knight
Joe Light
Mike Lundy
 Larry McKay
Pat McMahon
Bruce Moody
Bumper Morgan
Phil Motta
Diana Patterson
The Purple Pizza Eater (Don Pietro)
John Sebastian
Bob Shannon
Lee Smith
Gary Stevens
Dave Trout
 Todd Wallace
Jonny Wallace
 Guy Williams
Johnny Williams
Bob Wood




KRUX, Phoenix
Chuck Browning
J.W. Byers
Kit Carson
 Don Daro
 Geoff Fox
 Evert Fruitman
Dick Gray
Lucky Lawrence
Ray Lindy
Al McCoy
Phil Motta
Jack Dillon
 Christopher Haze
Paul Leigh
Rich 'Mother' Robbin
Harry Scarborough
John Sebastian
Norm Seeley
Bob Shannon (Bob Adams)
Bob Shannon (John Driscoll)
Phil Taylor
Dave Trout
 Todd Wallace

Source: http://www.440.com/az.html


-- Modified on 6/4/2008 2:55:35 PM

They also owned Bobby McGee’s and Mr. Magoo's on 19th Ave and Van Buren. I know them but wasn’t smart enough to invest in their company. I was spending all my time and $$$ partying.

I have no idea what you all are talking about!



RAZ

Hi folks Hal Schleidler here for Westward Pontiac we're right on the price/right on the corner of 7th Street and Highland just a block south of Camelback

They remember when Phoenix and all it's surrounding cities didn't even touch, let alone blend in together.  There was actually open fields between cities "back in the day".  

So all of the fine people are those who have had the special privledge of knowing Phoenix when it was a small, fun, friendly, and everyone knew everyone town.

Thank you everyone for your posts and reminding of some fun memories that I had forgotten.

Thank You Misty for starting this thread it was really fun

Rose edensrose

be our game show host at the next party.  Since they know so much about Arizona trivia they can do a contest at the next party.  What do you say "Local Knowledge"????  you up for it???